Windows of Hope

Ten years ago, Mayer and her husband Bob donated the money to open Windows of Hope. After a decade, the store continues to supply cancer patients with a variety of products and services.

As a patient and then a volunteer Carol Mayer thought that BIDMC could use a specialty shop that would cater to cancer patients coming in for chemotherapy treatment. Ten years ago, Mayer and her husband Bob donated the money to open Windows of Hope. After a decade, the store continues to supply cancer patients with a variety of products and services.

Windows of Hope is located on the 9th floor of the Carl J. Shapiro Clinical Center across from the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Many patients and their family members frequent the shop, which offers many products and services they will need in one convenient location. Offered at the shop are wig fittings and partial hairpieces, breast prostheses with fittings by appointment, ostomy products, adaptive clothing, hats, scarves, jewelry, journals, specialty creams and lotions, books, CDs, videotapes, audiotapes and more.

“Windows of Hope is amazing!” said Kit Lemaire, a former patient.

The warm and inviting atmosphere is due to the employees and volunteers of the shop including the shop’s manager, Linda Myers, and the sales coordinator, Terri Cohen.

“Linda and Terri are also amazing,” Lemaire said. “Without them I wouldn’t have made it through my treatments.” Lemaire was a patient at BIDMC for breast cancer, but will stop in to say hello to her friends in Windows of Hope if she is in the area. They always went above and beyond to be there for Lemaire. She was so glad that they made time for her even when they were not open. If she needed something, they would stay late with no problem.

Carol Mayer said, “Linda and Terri are my gifts from Heaven.”

They are both very helpful and empathetic to the patients. Myers and Cohen are experts at helping patients try on hats, head wraps and wigs. They have over 100 wigs in stock, but it only takes a short time to special order one.

“This is the best job,” Myers said.

Wendy, a patient at BIDMC who preferred not to have her full name used, said “I found Linda to be absolutely wonderful! Linda treated me very well. She gives you her opinion and makes you feel wonderful about your decisions. Losing your hair is tough to deal with; Linda was able to get me over the hump.”

Before the Windows of Hope was here at BIDMC the hallway on Shapiro 9 was empty. Patients had to travel around Boston or go to other hospitals where appointments for wig fittings sometimes had to be made weeks in advance. Windows of Hope has satisfied a need for Hematology/Oncology patients.

Posted March 2010

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